As we begin today, I just want to say … welcome to Part 4 of the Follow series, where we’re talking about the ins and outs of being a follower of Jesus—accepting his invitation to follow him. And we’ve already learned things like 1) being a sinner is a prerequisite of being a follower, 2) being a non-believer could be a prerequisite, 3) having doubts is O.K. when you become a follower (as it was for Thomas), and so forth. No matter who you are or where you are in...
As we look today to Jesus’ last words from the cross, we need to remember just how important last words can be. If you’re a United Methodist minister, for instance, you probably know the last words of John Wesley: “The best of all is, God is with us!” The best of all, indeed, is that God is with us. In just a few short words, and because they were his last—so important, John Wesley gave us words of hope, and words to live by, as he did. The reality of...
Let me read our scripture for today (which sounds like it should be Palm Sunday already), then I’ll get into it (Mark 11:1-11, NLT)… As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If...
Welcome to the conclusion of this GRACE ALONE worship series! Now, this doesn’t meant that we now know everything there is to know about God’s amazing GRACE, but I hope and pray that it’s wet your appetite to continue learning about God’s GRACE through scripture in the days to come… So, as we wrap this study up, let me begin with this story—to explain yet another truth about God’s GRACE… A man by the name of Victor Hugo once wrote a work called Les Misérables. In Les Misérables, the legendary...
It seems like each week since we started this series on FORGIVENESS, we’ve at least touched on the story called ‘The Parable of the Prodigal Son’ that Jesus told in Luke 15. And I said it was the greatest short story ever told … and I still stand by that, so let’s review… It begins with a father who has two sons and the youngest son is so dissatisfied with where he’s at, he asks his father for his inheritance immediately. So he takes 1/3 of his father’s estate and...
Folks, let me begin today by sharing one of my favorite psalms with you—Psalm 130 (NLT), that speaks of God’s incredible gift of forgiveness… From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. 2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. 3 LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. 5 I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope...
Today, folks, we’re continuing in our series THE REAL ‘F’ WORD … which is FORGIVENESS. And today, specifically, we’re talking about ‘How Can We Forgive Others?’ And as we get into that, let me ask you a question… How many of you would recognize ‘The Lord’s Prayer?’ Pretty familiar, isn’t it? It’s found a couple of times in scripture; it’s found in Matthew 6 and it’s also found in Luke 11. You know how it goes; don’t say it out loud, but say it in your mind, as you follow...
Forgiving yourself reminds me of a story I heard recently of a guy who was at LaGuardia Airport in New York. He was rushing through the terminal, afraid he was going to miss his flight. So, he goes up to a complete stranger—who himself is carrying two really big, heavy bags—and asks him for the time… Well, the stranger makes a big deal out of carefully setting down his two bags. Then he looks at his watch and says… · The time is 6 PM… · In Singapore, it’s 12...
On this Easter morning, we’re beginning a new worship series called: “Forgiveness: The Real F Word.” We just finished a series called “Christ on the Cross: Love Personified”—digging into Jesus’ final words from the cross and after. And today, as I said, we’re starting a new series on the topic of forgiveness ... and we’re going to do that with the parable or story of the Prodigal Son. For years, it’s been called ‘the greatest Short Story ever told’ and for good reasons. So, let’s begin in Luke, Chapter 15,...
I’ve had the privilege of being with several people as they were approaching death. A person’s dying words sometimes simply express his/her needs: “Could you move the pillow?” or “May I have a drink?” Sometimes they express a concern for others—a final ‘I love you’ or ‘It’s going to be O.K.’ A person’s final words reveal what is on his/her heart at that time, and sometimes they reveal the nature of the person’s faith, as well. I’ve told you before what my mother’s last words were: “I’m happy!” We interpret...
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